Piano-forte



Patented Aug. 28, 1888.

J. P. RICHARDSON.

PIANO PORTE.

(No Mode-1.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcE.

JOHN P. RICHARDSON, OF CAMBRIDGE, ASSIGNOR TO THE MASON & HAMLIN ORGAN AND PIANO COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PIANO-FORTE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,720, dated August 28l 1888,

Application led February l, 1887. Serial No. 226.180. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: device consists ol` a circular plate, J, having Be it known that I, JOHN P. RICHARDSON, an edge or rib, b, on its underside, which edge of Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and or rib has three downwardly-projecting legs, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain dfg, restiuOv by their respective ends on the new and useful Improvements in Piano-Fortes, iron plate la ofthe piano, and another downof which the following is a full, clear, and eX- wardly-projecting leg, It, at the front, also act description. adapted to rest on the plate K, the device be- The object of the present invention is to proing secured in position just back of the bridge vide a device to bear down upon the strings of D, and between it and the tuning-pins E, by a ro a piano-forte between the tuning-pins and the screw, L, passing through a center hole, m, in 6c bridge nearest thereto, to prevent the strings the plate, and screwingr down into the iron vibrating atsuch place and to hold them firmly plate K, by which the device is rmly secu red upon said bridge, and to laterally space and in its place to and on the iron frame. Vhen retain and hold the strings, represeuting,pret` secured in position on the iron plate, the

erably, two notes, so that laterally, at or near strings representing the note F bear up against e5 the bridge, they will be in proper position for the under edge, b, ot' the rib, between its the hammer ofthe pianofaction to strike and legs d f, and the strings of the other note, sound them; and the invention consists of a G, bear up against the n nder edge, I), beclamp or plate or bar adapted to be secured tween the legs f g, as shown in Fig. 8, the

zo over the strings, preferably representing two legs d,f, g, and 7L being of such length that the notes, at a proper distance above, and to the edges of the rib Z) will be lower down or nearer iron plate between the tuning-pins and the totheiron platethan the upper surface or edge, bridge nearest thereto, and provided with a n, ofthe bridge and the ends p of the tuning down-bearing edge or edges or rib or ribs for pins E, which rest on the block L of the iron the strings, and side bearing surfaces or edges frame, thereby holding the strings A down and for the strings of each note,where two strings consequently firmly upon the bridge D. The constitute a note, or for the two outer strings outer strings q r, of the note F are arranged of each note, where three strings constitute a to bear against the inner vertical edges s t, note, all substantially as hereinafter fully derespectively, of the leg d and the middle leg,

3o scribed. f, and the outer strings u v, of the other note, 8O

In the accompanying plate of drawings is G, are arranged to bear against the inner verillustrated thepresentinvention,Figures l and tical edges w y, respectively, of the leg g and 2 representing, respectively, a plan and side ofthe middleleg,f,and such edges are arranged view ofthe strings ofa piano-forte secured to in respect to their distances from each other their pins, bridges, and to their respective that the two outer strings of each note will be 85 tuningpins; Fig. 3, a detail under plan View held in such relation to their middle string, e, above section-line33, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 isafront and each other that the th ree strings of each View of the device detached. Fig. 5 is an unnote will be in proper position laterally at M der plan view. Fig. G is a vertical cross-see in front ofthe bridgeD t'or the hammerof the 4o tion on line 6 6, Fig. 5. piano-action to properly strike and. sound the 9o In the drawings,A A represent the strings of strings. This device enables the tuningpins a piano-forte secured around hitch-pins B, and E, as well as the hitch-pins B, to be arranged thence passing over and bearing on the bridges farther apart laterally for their better attach- Gand D, the end cof each string being secured ment to and location on the piano-frame, givto its respective tuning-pin E, the strings reping them more room for such attachment. 95 resenting two notes, F G, of three strings to The top or plate portion, J, although made each note, all as usual in pianofortes, and et' circular or round shape, as shown, which is needing no particular description herein. preferable, as is obvious, can be of any suita- H is a device, its construction and applica ble form; but the under bearing-edge of the 5o tion constituting the present invention. This rib b, with its legs and their bcaringedges, 10a

must be, however, properly located in reference to each other and the proper bearing down ofthe string and distance they should be apart.

It is preferable to make the device so as to include the strings representing two notes, although it can be applied to the strings of only one note,or to more than two notes, it' desired, also to make it ofthe present shape and form, and to secure it to the frame, as described, although it can be secured in anysuitable manner.

The front leg, h, rests on the frame K, and is ofa diameter small enough to lie between the series of strings representing the two notes and not touch or interfere with them, and in the arrangement of the strings the middle string, z, of each note is in a straight line, or substantially so, from its bridge C to its tuning-pin E.

This invention dispenses with notches in the bridge D for the several strings by which th ey are now sometimes spaced or arranged for their proper distances apart laterally at the bridge, as in this case the device itself produces this result,the bridge D being perfectly smooth and straight on its string-bearing edge, and also the edge can be made round, as shown in the drawings, in lieu of an inverted-V-edge, now sometimes used; also the device can be placed and secured to the frame between the bridge C and the hitch-pins B; but its most desirable place is as described and shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is The combination, with the strings of a piano representing two notes, of a plate or bar, J, having an under bearingedge,b,for the strings and legs dfg h, by which it rests upon the iron frame and secured thereto by a screw passing through a central opening in the plate, the legs df g having side bearingedges, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN l?. RICHARDSON.

Witnesses:

EDWIN W. BROWN, PERCY BRYANT. 

